Google Glass` privacy safeguards questioned in US

Washington: In a letter signed by eight members of Congress, the privacy safeguards of Google's high-profile and much hyped wearable computing device, Google Glass, have been questioned.

The device connects wirelessly to a smartphone using Bluetooth technology and the wearer sees the functions as ''visions''. These ''visions'' play in front of the eyes of the wearer sans a physical screen.

In a report by Fox News, the Republican Reps. Joe Barton (Texas), Steve Chabot (Ohio) and Richard Nugent (Fla.) as well as Democratic Reps. John Barrow (Ga.), Hank Johnson Jr. (Ga.), Walter B. Jones (N.C.), Bobby Rush (Ill.) and Loretta Sanchez (Calif.), in their letter have asked Google about how the device would prevent from unintentionally collecting data about users or non-users without consent especially in reference to the use of its facial recognition app MedRef.

The face recognition app has been designed primarily for medical purposes but can also be used to save contact details of people. There is a growing concern about the device''s privacy safeguards before its public launch in the next year. Google however declined to comment on the letter by the Congress.

ANI